My lecturers have brought out my excitement and passion for maths

What made you want to study your course?

Choosing my degree was the most natural big-choice of my life, mathematics is something that I've always enjoyed and succeeded in. It is an endless world of symmetric beauty and problem solving, with plenty of unique flavours available for the wide range of people who study it. In studying maths you can study just about anything in the real world, or at least appreciate the patterns and structure that appear everywhere you look, if you look closely enough.

I did not come to Sheffield with the intent of studying for a masters degree, but after a successful second year and first semester of my third year, I decided to switch to the integrated masters programme. I have never known what I have wanted to do with my life, but the idea of studying maths for several more years in a PhD has me quite excited, and the masters degree is the first step in doing so.

What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?

Sheffield! But for my course in particular, undoubtedly certain lecturers. In my opinion, it matters far less how well suited a subject is to you than it does to have a lecturer who can inspire you to study it. I have been very fortunate to have been taught by a few such lecturers during my time at Sheffield. I am extremely thankful to them, as they have brought out my excitement and passion for maths when it has been lost under the challenges of being a student. Some lecturers are also very compassionate, not just about their subject but also about their students. I have struggled with mental illness for many years now, and these lecturers have been instrumental in helping me to 'keep at it' when things get tough, even if they haven't been aware of it.

What skills have you developed during your course?

Certainly the ability to crack down on advanced problems when it seems like I have no idea where to start. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to do a talk for my SURE project, with more talks likely happening in the future. I would hope that these experiences have developed my presentation and communication skills.

Writing advanced maths was also something that was only introduced to me in my degree, and doing this well requires a lot of consideration into the flow and structure of one's writing - something that I never had to properly consider before.

There are of course many mathematical skills that I have developed. To succeed in a maths degree you simply have to pick up lots and lots of 'tricks', plenty of which I would say are now a concrete part of my mathematical skillset.

What would you say to a student thinking about studying your course at Sheffield?

Sheffield is great, you should definitely study here!

In my opinion, you cannot thrive if you do not enjoy where you live, and searching for what you enjoy in a new city surrounded by new people can be daunting. The Student's Union here facilitates this search excellently, there truly is something for everyone at Sheffield. For those like myself who love the outdoors, having the Peak District on your doorstep is truly a magical experience.

The course itself is fun, challenging, with a wide range of modules to choose from and plenty of opportunities to tackle more advanced projects like I did through the SURE scheme.